Container for dispensing paper

ABSTRACT

A container for dispensing paper of the type which is normally rolled about a tubular core, including means carried by the container for releasably attaching the container to a readily accessible place in a motor vehicle or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the container comprises a substantially enclosed hollow housing having two opposed end walls connected by longitudinally disposed side walls; the opposing end walls having means for rotatably mounting the tubular core of the paper roll, while one of the side walls is provided with an elongated opening having a length at least equal to the longitudinal length of the paper roll to permit the withdrawal of selected lengths of the paper therethrough as the paper roll is rotated. In the second embodiment, means are provided on one of the end walls to cause rotation of the paper roll.

[ 51 June 6,1972

[54] CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING PAPER Leslie Hollister, 1 1204 WesterRoad, Clio, Mich. 48420 [22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 32,288

[72] Inventor:

594,485 11/1897 McMillan ..242/55.53

Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen MarcusAttorney-Hauke, Gifi'ord & Patalidis [57] ABSTRACT A container fordispensing paper of the type which is normally rolled about a tubularcore, including means carried by the container for releasably attachingthe container to a readily accessible place in a motor vehicle or thelike. In a preferred embodiment, the container comprises a substantiallyenclosed hollow housing having two opposed end walls connected bylongitudinally disposed side walls; the opposing end walls having meansfor rotatably mounting the tubular core of the paper roll, while one ofthe side walls is provided with an elongated opening having a length atleast equal to the longitudinal length of the paper roll to permit thewithdrawal of selected lengths of the paper therethrough as the paperroll is rotated. In the second embodiment, means are provided on one ofthe end walls to cause rotation of the paper roll.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTORLESLIE HOLLISTER WM 4% I/Q/JQQ ylarngy PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 2 UF 2INVENTOR LESLIE HOLLISTER wfanvegs CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING PAPERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to improvements in dispensing containers and isparticularly concerned with the construction of a paper dispensingcontainer having a novel manner for mounting such a container.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore devices of this generalcharacter have had certain structural disadvantages rendering themobjectionable under certain conditions of use. Normally, paper such aspaper towels, toilet paper and the like are packaged by the manufacturerin separate containers and must be removed from these containers whenuse thereof is required and placed in a second container, which in turnis normally permanently fixed to the wall surface upon which the paperroll or the like is to be carried and from which it is dispensed. Theseknown prior devices, in order to be effective, must be simple in theirdesign and afford simple means for the insertion of the roll of paper;must include means for retaining the roll of paper in place; must not bedifficult to mount; and further, must be operated so as not to becomedisassembled inadvertently during use. Such prior devices must also beconstructed in a rugged manner of sufficient strength and at a minimumcost. None of the prior art devices provides a construction and assemblyfor dispensing paper and the like which overcomes all of theseaforementioned objectionable characteristics. It would thus be desirableto provide a dispensing device which, in addition to eliminating theaforementioned problems, provides new and desirable features heretoforeunattainable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail comprises a container, preferablyconstructed of a disposable material, for use in dispensing paper of thetype which is normally rolled about a tubular core. The containercomprises a substantially enclosed hollow housing having two opposed endwalls connected by longitudinally disposed side walls; the end walls andside walls defining a cavity in which a paper roll is mounted forrotational movement about the longitudinal axis extending between theend walls. The cavity is of such a size as to permit the free rotationalmovement of the paper roll. An elongated opening extending through oneof the side walls has a length at least equal to the length of the paperroll to permit the withdrawal of selected lengths of the papertherethrough as the paper roll is rotated. The container is adapted tobe releasably mounted to the wall surface on which the dispenser is tobe disposed; the mounting means including an adhesive or a magnetattached to one side wall of the container and respectively adapted toattach the container to non-metallic and metallic surfaces dependingupon where the container is to be used.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide adispensing container having a novel mounting arrangement.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispensingcontainer which also functions as the packaging container in which thepaper rolls and the like are initially disposed and in which they aretransported from the manufacturer to the user.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dispensingcontainer which will be strong and durable, pleasing in appeara nce,conform to the surroundings in which it is used, and which is economicalto manufacture and thus less expensive to the user.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide adispensing container having all of the above mentioned advantages andwhich is constructed of a material which permits the disposal of thecontainer when the paper roll or the like contained therein has beenexhausted.

Other objects, advantages, and applications of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the an of dispensing containerswhen the accompanying description of some examples of the best modescontemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description herein makes referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer tolike or equivalent parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of anautomobile with a dispensing container constructed in accordance withthe present invention and shown in position for use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dispensing containerembodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of thedispensing container illustrated in FIG. 2 and taken along line 33thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the dispensing deviceillustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of thedispensing container illustrated in FIG. 4 and taken along line 5--5thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispensingcontainer incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is another embodiment of a dispensing container incorporating thefeatures of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective partially exploded view of yet anotherembodiment of a dispensing container employing the features of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings andparticularly to FIGS. 1-3 one example of the present invention isillustrated in the form of a dispensing container 10 mounted to theunderside of a dashboard 12 of a motor vehicle or the like.

The container 10 comprises a substantially enclosed tubular housing 14having opposing parallel end walls 16 and 18 longitudinally connected bya plurality of side walls 20, each of which is disposed in a plane atright angles to the other, such that the housing 14 has substantiallyrectilinear cross section. The interior of the housing 14 pnvides acavity 21 in which a paper roll 22 is disposed. The paper roll 22 isformed of a disposable paper 23 rolled about a tubular core 24 in a wellknown manner and is commonly referred to as a paper towel.

The cavity 21 defined by the end walls 16 and 18 and the side walls 20is so sized that there is sufficient clearance between the outerperiphery 25 of the paper roll 22 and the side walls 20, and between theopposite ends 26 of the paper roll 22 and the end walls 16 and 18 topermit relatively free rotational movement of the paper roll 22 withrespect to the housing 14 in a manner which will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter.

Each of the end walls 16 and 18 have apertures 28, the walls of whichform an annular flange 30 extending inwardly into the cavity 21. Theannular flanges 30 formed on each wall 16 and 18 are axially alignedwith one another along the longitudinal axis of the housing 14. One ofthe side walls 20 is provided with an elongated opening 32 having alength at least equal to the length of the paper roll 22, but preferablysomewhat greater. The width of the opening 32 should be sufficient topermit the user of a container 10 to insert at least two fingerstherethrough to grasp the disposable paper 23 so as to be able towithdraw a selected amount of the paper 23 through the opening 32.

The tubular core 24 of the paper roll 22 extends outwardly beyond theopposite ends 26 of the paper roll 22 a sufficient distance so as toencircle the flanges 30 formed on the opposing end walls 16 and 18, theengagement being so arranged that the paper roll 22 will rotate aboutthe aligned axes of the flanges 30 as the user of the dispenserwithdraws the paper 23 from the container 10. Thus the paper roll 22 isadapted to rotate about an axis which is parallel to and inwardly spacedfrom the opening 32, thereby permitting an even withdrawal of the paper23 from the paper roll 22.

The housing 14 of the container 10 is preferably constructed of alightweight cardboard material, however, the housing 14 may also beconstructed of an inexpensive plastic material. The container 10 may beconstructed by the manufacturer such that one or both of the end walls16 and 18 are attached to the side walls 20 after the paper roll 22 hasbeen inserted therein and then the end walls 16 and 18 are fixed to theside walls 20 (see FIG. by any suitable means, such as by a bondingagent or the like. Thus the dispensing container functions as apackaging container for the transportation of the paper roll 22 to theuser. A suitable sealing means, such as a tape (not shown), may beplaced over the opening 32 to protect the paper roll 22 from exteriorelements.

A mounting element 34 is carried by one of the sidewalls of the housing14 and is illustrated in FIG. 2 in the form of a thin strip 36 having anadhesive surface 38 on the exposed side of the strip 36 of the typewhich when pressed against a wall surface, such as the bottom of thedashboard 12, will be of sufficient strength to hold the container 10 inposition, yet of the type which will permit removal of the container 10from the dashboard 12 when the paper roll 22 has been exhausted. Aprotective sheet of paper 40 is provided over the adhesive surface 38 ofthe strip 36 to protect the same during shipment of the container 10from manufacturer to the user.

The adhesive strip 36 may be attached to the side wall 20 by themanufacturer by any suitable bonding agent, or the same may be enclosedwithin the container 10 and removed therefrom by the user and attachedto the surface 20 and used as described The tape 36 may provide a dualfunction in that it may be used initially by the manufacturer to enclosethe opening 32 during shipment of the container 10, whereupon it isremoved from the opening and placed upon the top side of the containerside wall 20 and used to mount the container 10 as hereinbeforedescribed.

It can thus be seen that the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-3 providesa dispensing container which functions both as a packaging container forthe shipping of the paper roll 22 from the manufacturer to the user andas a dispenser for the paper roll 22. Further, the container 10 isremovably attachable to any selected surface by means of the adhesivestrip 36, and thus after the paper roll 22 has been exhausted the samemay be detached from its wall surface where use of the container 10 hasbeen had, and disposed of as the same may be con,- structed of a veryinexpensive material.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 for a detailed description of a modifiedform 42 of the dispensing container 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. Themodified dispensing container 42 takes the form of a tubularsubstantially enclosed housing 44 having opposing disc-shaped ends 46and 48 connected by a cylindrical body 45. The interior of the housing44 forms a cavity 50 in which the paper roll 22 is rotatably mounted.Mounting of the paper roll 22 is provided by the opposing disc ends 46and 48 by a pair of axially aligned apertures 52, one of which is shownin FIG. 5. A rod member 54 extends through the tubular core 24 and isreceived by the apertures 52in each disc end 46 and 48 proximate theopposite ends of the tubular core 24. The rod member 54 has an enlargedsection 56 which engages the interior surface of the tubular core 24such that the rod member 54 and the paper roll 22 rotate as a singleunit. The opposite ends of the rod member 54 engage the apertures 52 insuch a manner that the rod member 54 is freely rotatable with respect tothe ends 46 and 48. One end 58 of the rod member 54 extends through thedisc end 46 and is received in a bore 60 of a knob 62. The knob 62 androd member 54 are preferably constructed of a plastic with the rodmember end 58 and the knob bore 60 sized to create a slight interferencebetween them to insure a tight engagement. It can thus be seen that byrotating the knob 62 the paper roll 22 will rotate therewith.

An opening 64 extending longitudinally across the tubular housing 44 hasa length which is at least equal to the length of the paper roll 22 andpreferably slightly larger to permit the paper 23 forming the paper roll22 to extend therethrough for withdrawal by the user. The opposite endsof said opening terminate at points spaced inwardly from the oppositeends of housing 44. The opposite ends of the rod 54 are mounted in theapertures 52 such that the paper roll 22 will freely rotate upon thewithdrawal of the paper 23 from the paper roll 22 without the aid of theknob 62. The primary purpose of the knob 62 is to rotate the paper roll22 such that the free end of the paper will be proximate the opening 64so as to permit the individual to insert his fingers therein and easilygrasp the end to withdraw the paper 23 as hereinbefore described. Theknob and rod member arrangement may also be used with the otherembodiment disclosed in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 by proper modificatron.

It is to be understood that the embodiment in FIG. 4 may be constructedwithout the enlarged section 56 on the rod member 54 and without theknob 62 such that withdrawal of the paper by the user thereof permitsrelative rotational movement of the paper roll 22 about the rod member54 in a manner similar to the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 2.During assembly of the container 42, the paper roll 22 is inserted inthrough one end such as at 46, which in turn is suitably attached to theend of the tubular housing 44 by any suitable adhesive.

Mounted on a portion of the tubular housing 44 is an adhesive strip 65,which is similar to the adhesive strip 36 herein before described andfunctions in the same manner and likewise may be used to enclose theopening 65 during shipment of the paper roll from the manufacturer tothe user. The container 42 functions as both a shipping container and adispensing container.

Referring now to FIG. 6 where there is illustrated another embodiment ofthe present invention in the form of a tubular dispensing container 66having a rectilinear cross-section and adapted to contain paper in theform of interleafed sheets 68 of dispcmable paper towels; such sheetsbeing well known and commonly used and a further description of them isnot necessary. The container 66 has two opposing end walls 70 connectedby four side walls 76 by any suitable means, the top side wall of whichhas an adhesive strip 74 that is substantially similar to the strip 36.The bottom side wall 72 opposite the top side wall is provided with anelongated opening 76 to permit the withdrawal of the interleafed sheets68 one at a time. The container 66 is likewise constructed of amaterial, such as coardboard or plastic, to permit the disposal of thesame after the paper contained therein has been exhausted. It can thusbe seen that the container 66 functions as both a shipping container anda dispensing container having releasably attaching means.

Referring now to the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 7, there isillustrated a tubular dispensing container 78 for mounting anddispensing a roll of toilet paper 80. The container 78 is illustrated ashaving a rectilinear cross-section, but may be fabricated in acylindrical shape similar to the embodiment described in FIG. 4. Thecontainer 78 comprises two opposing end walls 82 and 84 having apertures86 and 88 to receive a rod member 90, which in turn extends through atubular core 92 on which the roll of toilet paper is formed. Theopposite end walls 82 and 84 are connected by four side walls 94 toenclose the toilet paper 80 during shipment of the same. The bottom sidewall 94' is provided with perforated edges 96 to permit its completeremoval from the container 78 so as to permit free entry into theinterior of the container 78 by the individual who desires use of thepaper 80 contained therein. An adhesive tape 98 is provided on the rearwalls 94 to permit attachment of the container 78 to the wall surfaceupon which use of the container 78 is desired. During manufacture of thecontainer 78, the roll of paper 80 is inserted into the container by anyone of the methods described hereinbefore.

It is well known that such toilet paper rolls normally are packaged andtransported separately from the dispenser and that such dispensersusually take the form of a metal container permanently mounted to thewall surface where their use is desired. The present applicationprovides a toilet paper container for use in shipping the paper from themanufacturer to the user, while at the same time provides a means fordispensing the toilet paper. The container 78 may be constructed of adisposable material and thus such a disposable container will findnumerous applications, particularly in industrial facilities and publicrestrooms.

Referring now to FIG. 8 for description of yet another embodiment of thepresent invention, there is illustrated a tubular container 100 having ahousing 101 of a rectilinear crosssection and fabricated preferably froma plastic or light-weight metal. The housing 101 has opposing end walls102 and 104 with axial aligned flanges 106 and 108 formed respectivelyon their inner surfaces. The flanges 106 and 108 receive the oppositeends of a rod member 1 10, which in turn extends axially through thetubular core 24 of the paper roll 22 to support the same for rotationalmovement about the axis of the rod member 110. The opposing end walls102 and 104 are integrally connected to forward, rearward and top sidewalls respectively, indicated by the numerals 112, 114 and 116. A bottomside wall 118 is hinged at its opposite ends at 120 to the forward sidewall 112 so that the bottom side wall 118 may be pivoted to and awayfrom the bottom of the housing 101 to permit access to the interiorthereof to replace the paper roll 22 when the original paper roll hasbeen exhausted. The rod member 110 is so sized with respect to theflanges 106 and 108 that the rod member 110 may be easily snapped in andout of the flanges. Thus the container 100 is reusable.

Latching member 120 carried at the bottom of the rearward wall 116engages a slot 122 formed in the bottom wall when the same is pivoted toa closed position during use of the container 100. An elongated opening124 disposed between the hinges 120 and extending slightly upwardly intothe forward side walls 112 permits the withdrawal of the paper roll 22as desired. The opening 124 is of a length at least equal to the lengthof the paper roll 22 and of a width sufficient to permit the insertionof the users fingers to grasp the end of the paper roll 22 to withdrawthe same from the housing.

A pair of magnets 126 are illustrated as being fastened to the exteriorsurface of the rearward side wall 1 16 by any suitable means, such asscrews or an adhesive bonding agent, however, the magnets may befastened to the top side wall 114, depending upon where it is desired touse the container 100. The magnets 126 permit the container 100 to beselectively and releasably attached to any metal surface upon which thedispenser is desired to be used. In lieu of the magnets 126, a suitableadhesive tape, such as the strips 36, 64, 74 or 98 respectively used inthe embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7, may be useddepending upon the particular location in which the container is to beused.

In use, the manufacturer of the container 100 may provide both themagnets 126 and the adhesive tape within the container 100 duringshipment and provide a suitable adhesive to attach the magnets or tapeto whichever side the user of the container 100 desires for his ownconvenience.

It can thus be seen that the present invention has provided a containerwhich is adaptable to be used both in packaging and shipping containerby the manufacturer thereof and which is equally usable for dispensing apaper roll and the like therefrom; which is adapted to be removablyattached to any surface proximate the area in which such paper roll orthe like is desired to be used; and which in several of the embodimentsmay be disposed of after the paper roll contained therein has beenexhausted.

It can also be seen that the present invention has provided a simple,practical, and reliable construction that is attractive in appearance,extremely economical to manufacture and one which will be durable andefficient during its useful life.

While the foregoing has described the features and advantages of theseveral embodiments of the present invention, it will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art of containers that changes in formand proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A disposable container for dispensing of paper of the type which isrolled about a tubular core, said container being adapted to bereleasably attached to a wall surface, said container comprising:

a cylindrically shaped, hollow tubular body;

a pair of cup-shaped members each having annular flanged portionsremovably received, respectively, in the opposite ends of saidcylindrically shaped hollow tubular body to define the opposing endwalls for said tubular body and a cavity therewithin, said end wallslying in substantially parallel planes which are substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body, thedistance between said end walls being greater than the longitudinallength of said paper roll and the diameter of said tubular body beinggreater than the diameter of said paper roll such that said paper rollis adapted to be longitudinally positioned between said end walls withinthe confines of said cavity and adapted for free rotation about itslongitudinal axis;

an elongated opening in said tubular body having a length at least equalto the longitudinal length of said paper roll to permit the withdrawalof selective lengths of said paper through said opening as said paperroll is rotated, the opposite ends of said opening terminating at pointsinwardly spaced from the opposite ends of said tubular body, saidopening having a width substantially less than the diameter of paperroll, said end walls having aligned apertures disposed along an axisparallel to said opening,

a core rod extending through said tubular core and mounting said paperroll, said core rod having opposite end portions rotatably carried bysaid end wall apertures such that said paper roll rotates about thelongitudinal axis of said core rod as said core rod is rotated, one ofsaid core rod ends extending through one of said end wall apertures andexternally of said cavity;

a knob having an aperture to receive said one end of said core rod, saidknob aperture being so sized as to create an interference fit betweensaid core rod end and said knob aperture when said core rod is receivedtherewithin to secure said core rod to said knob such that said paperroll is rotated about the axis of said core rod when said externallydisposed knob is rotated; and

an adhesive material carried on a portion of the external surface ofsaid tubular body, said adhesive material releasably attaching saidcontainer to said surface when positioned in contact therewith; saidtubular member and said end walls being constructed from a materialselected from a group consisting of plastic, paper and cardboard.

2. The disposable container defined in claim 1 further comprising aprotective covering disposed on said adhesive material and adapted forremoval therefrom when said container is to be releasably attached tosaid surface.

1. A disposable container for dispensing of paper of the type which isrolled about a tubular core, said container being adapted to bereleasably attached to a wall surface, said container comprising: acylindrically shaped, hollow tubular body; a pair of cup-shaped memberseach having annular flanged portions removably received, respectively,in the opposite ends of said cylindrically shaped hollow tubular body todefine the opposing end walls for said tubular body and a cavitytherewithin, said end walls lying in substantially parallel planes whichare substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tubularbody, the distance between said end walls being greater than thelongitudinal length of said paper roll and the diameter of said tubularbody being greater than the diameter of said paper roll such that saidpaper roll is adapted to be longitudinally positioned between said endwalls within the confines of said cavity and adapted for free rotationabout its longitudinal axis; an elongated opening in said tubular bodyhaving a length at least equal to the longitudinal length of said paperroll to permit the withdrawal of selective lengths of said paper throughsaid opening as said paper roll is rotated, the opposite ends of saidopening terminating at points inwardly spaced from the opposite ends ofsaid tubular body, said opening having a width substantially less thanthe diameter of paper roll, said end walls having aligned aperturesdisposed along an axis paralleL to said opening, a core rod extendingthrough said tubular core and mounting said paper roll, said core rodhaving opposite end portions rotatably carried by said end wallapertures such that said paper roll rotates about the longitudinal axisof said core rod as said core rod is rotated, one of said core rod endsextending through one of said end wall apertures and externally of saidcavity; a knob having an aperture to receive said one end of said corerod, said knob aperture being so sized as to create an interference fitbetween said core rod end and said knob aperture when said core rod isreceived therewithin to secure said core rod to said knob such that saidpaper roll is rotated about the axis of said core rod when saidexternally disposed knob is rotated; and an adhesive material carried ona portion of the external surface of said tubular body, said adhesivematerial releasably attaching said container to said surface whenpositioned in contact therewith; said tubular member and said end wallsbeing constructed from a material selected from a group consisting ofplastic, paper and cardboard.
 2. The disposable container defined inclaim 1 further comprising a protective covering disposed on saidadhesive material and adapted for removal therefrom when said containeris to be releasably attached to said surface.